Laserfiche WebLink
Special Programs <br /> <br />2010 Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival is Largest Ever! <br /> <br />The numbers of participants and attendees to the 28th Annual Hawai‘i Kupuna Hula Festival skyrocketed <br />this year. The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa hosted the competition and craft fair on <br />September 15 &16, 2010. Close to 500 participants from 26 halau, including 7 from Japan, 1 from <br />Okinawa, 2 from Oregon, 1 from California, 1 from Maui, 2 from O‘ahu, 1 from Moloka‘i and 11 from the <br />Big Island, gathered to participate in this years “Na Pua O Na Mokupuni”, (The Flowers of the Islands) <br />competition. Nearly 2,000 people attended the two day festival to watch the 26 halau compete for top prizes <br />in 5 categories. The individual Tutu Wahine and Tutu Kane dances took place on Wednesday night, followed <br />by the group competitions in the Mixed, Wahine, Kane and categories on Thursday night. <br /> <br />During each performance, 5 judges rated the dancers on overall appearance, presentation, hand gestures, <br />and costumes, among other categories, using a 1-10 point scale. The top three winners in each of the <br />competitions received prizes generously donated by local sponsors: First Hawaiian Bank, Big Island <br />Candies, Waikoloa Land Co., Kukio Resorts, LLC., Akamai Photographics, Hawai‘i Island Festivals, <br />Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council, Kona Aerial Gymnastics, County of Hawai‘i Parks and <br />Recreation Elderly Activities Division, and the Kupuna Hula Festival. <br /> <br />This year’s individual Tutu Kane winners included; third place in the Kane category Robert Gomes with <br />Na Kupuna O Ka‘u, second place; Percy Kihano dancing with Na Kupuna O Ko‘olau, and first place <br />individual Kane winner from Na Leo Nahenahe O Na Kupuna; Richard Sanderson with 299 points. The <br />individual Tutu Wahine winners were; third place Pi`ilani Rodrigues performing for Leo Nahenahe O Pohai <br />Kealoha, second place; Beverly Romais from Maui’s Na Kupuna O Kaunoa. First place individual Wahine <br />dancer was Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu’s Pamela Punihaole with 320 points. <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Kane, Richard Sanderson <br /> <br />1st Place Tutu Wahine, Pamela Punihaole <br /> <br />Oldest Participant, Gladys Ihara (94 years young) <br /> <br />Kupuna News 7 January-March 2011 <br /> <br />